YouSaid · the spoken record

Biang

lines on the record: 1,385
first: 2021-12-09
most recent: 2023-12-21
sittings or episodes: 203
sources: un-security-council

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“Those ambitious initiatives combine robust funding and logistics and synergy that prioritizes trilateral cooperation among the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, given the convergence of their respective interests. Therefore, we agree that there is a need to call not only for strengthening bilateral cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union, but also for cooperation between the European Union and the African Union and, more broadly, for trilateral interaction among the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union, with a view to increasing their coordination on cross-cutting peace and security concerns. Furthermore, we call for the strengthening of the dialogue between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the European Union Political and Security Committee.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“That poses a clear security and economic threat to the countries of the region, such as Gabon, which are exposed to attacks on ships, illicit marine activities, kidnapping and other acts of sabotage. The most recent report of the Secretary-General on the issue (S/2022/818) underscores the joint efforts undertaken in cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union, which in particular includes a strong presence on the ground with, of course, marked and encouraging results. The scope of those threats and challenges has led the African Union to adopt its own peace and development strategy, set forth in Agenda 2063, which is underpinned by the African Peace and Security Architecture, the African Governance Architecture and the Silencing the Guns initiative.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“On the African continent, the main area of cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union involves responding to the constant threats posed by extremist groups, such as Boko Haram, the Allied Democratic Forces and Al-Shabaab, most of which claim ties with Da’esh. The resulting security risk seriously erodes the foundations of the shared values of freedom, dignity and democracy on the African continent by taking advantage of populations that are at the mercy of socioeconomic factors. Another priority area in which there is cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the European Union and the African Union, involves the fight against maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“The framework agreement promotes the needed joint action and alignment of the European Union’s priorities with those of the United Nations. The increasingly regional nature of crises undeniably led to the conclusions of the Brahimi report (S/2000/809) on United Nations peacekeeping operations, which advocated for greater cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. The issue of global responsibility-sharing in crisis management is particularly important and highlights the need for a principle of subsidiarity and the use of comparative advantages for greater efficiency.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“In terms of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, the European Union’s commitment has as its principal mechanism the European Peace Facility, the goal of which is to contribute to international peace through financing for conflict prevention and peacebuilding operations, particularly in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region, Central and Southern Africa, the Western Balkans and Ukraine. The many crises exacerbated by interrelated challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism, the plundering of natural resources and the misuse of information technologies, require cooperative work between the United Nations and the European Union through the use of suitable tools. That partnership has been supported by a framework agreement on peace operations and crisis management since September 2020.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“It is a model partnership in line with the European Union’s significant contribution to the United Nations funds and programmes dedicated to conflict prevention, the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, the promotion and protection of human rights and humanitarian aid, as well as its own work in areas as varied as peace and security, the fight against climate change, the protection of biodiversity and the fight against pollution. The European Union’s commitment is particularly important in terms of strengthening multilateralism through reaffirming and consolidating the central role of the United Nations.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I commend Malta on taking the initiative of convening this important debate, which highlights the leading role that regional and subregional organizations play in the development and implementation of United Nations programmes, in accordance with the principles set forth in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. I thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for his informative briefing on the commitment of the European Union at the international level. The United Nations and the European Union maintain a constructive working dynamic that continues to grow in response to the multifaceted challenges to international peace and security.”
2023-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9268 (2023) · source
“We encourage donors to remain mobilized for the financing of the humanitarian response plan to meet the assistance needs of 3.4 million Central Africans, including 1.6 million children. In conclusion, Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon reaffirm their commitment to respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Central African Republic. We reiterate our support for Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, and her team for their constant efforts on the ground.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“Taking a quantitative approach in the field of human rights, without duly considering the qualitative and substantial efforts of the Government, is far removed from the reality in and priorities of the country. That approach must therefore be more balanced and constructive. The humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic continues to worsen, amid an upsurge in violence against civilians by armed groups and insecurity in areas outside urban centres. We strongly condemn the attacks by armed groups against humanitarian personnel, which significantly hamper their work on the ground. As a result, millions of people are seeing their vulnerability growing and their livelihoods eroding. The A3 welcomes the commitment of humanitarians despite the security risks.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“However, we are curious about the continuous increase in human rights violations due to the methodology used to identify them, which unfortunately does not reflect the efforts of the Central African authorities, supported by MINUSCA, in that area. We reiterate that the Central African Republic is facing multidimensional challenges that require an increased mobilization of resources, particularly with regard to infrastructure construction, capacity- building, the purchase of equipment and the training of personnel, which are key steps towards the restoration of State authority. The Central African Republic cannot meet those challenges without the support of its development partners.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“Faced with new security challenges that are evident in the continuous increase in asymmetric threats, the A3 remains convinced that the strengthening of the Forces armées centrafricaines’ operational capabilities must be commensurate with the threats emerging on the ground. To that end, training and capacity-building activities for the defence and security forces must be intensified, particularly in the areas of mine clearance, logistics and human rights. We reiterate that allowing MINUSCA to remain in the Central African Republic will be considered an admission of failure for the international community. The Central African forces must ultimately be able to secure their territory in a sustainable manner. There is no security without justice. We commend the efforts of MINUSCA to promote capacity-building for magistrates in particular.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“In addition, we note with satisfaction the lifting of the ban on night flights for the benefit of MINUSCA. Dialogue and the strengthening of cooperation between the Central African authorities and MINUSCA must continue in order to jointly define the appropriate procedures for the protection of Central African airspace against possible attacks. We welcome the unity of the Security Council in adopting resolution 2648 (2022) on the lifting of the arms embargo. We believe that such a significant step forward will enable the country to continue its actions to protect its populations and to defend its territory and its natural resources. The Forces armées centrafricaines must be able to assume their sovereign missions throughout the country’s territory.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“We invite international partners to mobilize to provide financial support to the country in its quest for peace and development in order to address the root causes of the conflict. There is no military solution to the crisis in the Central African Republic. There are only political solutions. However, there will be no solution at all without responding to the root causes of instability. The Central African Republic, already weakened by internal crises, must also deal with multiple crises, such as the coronavirus disease and rising oil and food prices, that weigh heavily on its future. Overcoming those cycles of violence and crises requires economic development and the restoration of basic services, which must receive the financial support of the international community.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon strongly condemn all such repeated attacks against the civilian population, MINUSCA personnel and the Forces armées centrafricaines, including the increasing use of explosive devices by armed groups, which impede the free movement of persons and goods. We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and call on the Central African authorities to take all appropriate measures to bring to justice those guilty of those heinous crimes. The A3 underscores that a lasting peace is possible only if the Central African authorities have the capacity to take control of their territory; to effectively complete the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation programme; and to ensure the successful reintegration of demobilized armed groups into society.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“The A3 welcomes the role played by the African Union, the ICGLR and the Economic Community of Central African States in the Central African Republic, as well as the visit of the Council of Elders of the African Union in November 2022 to Bangui — tangible proof of the African Union’s determination to continue to promote mediation and prevent conflicts in the country. We invite subregional organizations to step up their involvement in strengthening inter-State cooperation in order to secure common borders. On the security front, we are deeply concerned by the continuous cycle of violence to which armed groups are subjecting the civilian population and by the asymmetrical attacks against MINUSCA and the Forces armées centrafricaines as they fight, on a daily basis, to preserve the territorial integrity of the country.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“The A3 takes note of the announcement in December 2022 of the comprehensive dissolution of four armed groups signatories to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. We are encouraged by the holding of the second meeting of the strategic review for the further implementation of the Political Agreement through the joint road map of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and we ask all signatories to support the holding of local elections and thereby prioritize political solutions to resolve the crisis in the country.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“There should be no room for hate speech or incitement to violence within the Central African Republic, and the perpetrators of such acts should be swiftly brought to justice by the State authorities. At the regional level, Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon welcome the holding of a tripartite summit between the Central African Republic, Angola and Chad on 8 February in Luanda, devoted, in particular, to the prevailing political and security situation in the Central African Republic. That mini-summit constitutes a considerable step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between the Central African Republic and Chad, which is crucial for the consolidation of security along the borders separating those two countries.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“We also welcome the continued support of the International Organization of la Francophonie in strengthening democracy and the rule of law in the Central African Republic, particularly through support for institutions such as the National Electoral Authority, the Constitutional Court and the national human rights commission. We encourage the Central African authorities to continue their efforts in the fight against disinformation and misinformation, in particular through the actions of the country’s communications authority. We also call on the Government of the Central African Republic to continue working towards ensuring social cohesion and tolerance, which are prerequisites for durable peace in the country.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“The holding of local elections is a crucial step that will contribute to the restoration of State authority, which is essential for the Central African Republic’s stabilization. It would be a pity if the hard-won gains made thus far owing to considerable efforts were to be wiped out at this stage. The crisis in the Central African Republic has an impact on international peace and security — which is the responsibility of the Security Council — and it is crucial that the international community mobilize alongside the Central African authorities so that those local elections, demanded by the people, are held.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“The A3 recalls that the overall budget for the organization of local elections is estimated at around $11 million and that the Central African State has made a financial commitment of $4.56 million. Given that difficult economic context, the Central African Republic is in greater need than ever of the international community’s financial support, which is crucial for the effective holding of local elections within the agreed time frame. The Central African Republic has recently signed a local elections financing agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), guaranteeing transparency in the funds allocated to the electoral process support project, which is directly managed by UNDP itself.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“We encourage the Central African authorities to continue dialogue with all political actors to maintain a space for discussion, which is necessary for definitively silencing the weapons in the Central African Republic. The Government’s efforts to organize the first local elections in more than 20 years are noteworthy. These elections, which could be held if the security situation permits in the country’s 176 communes, are awaited by the Central African people, who aspire to lasting peace and free, transparent and credible elections. We welcome the opening of local branches of the National Electoral Authority in 20 prefectures of the country and the finalization of the electoral mapping despite the multiplication of security incidents resulting from sporadic attacks by armed groups.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“The report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/108) on the situation in Central African Republic and its consequences for peace and stability gives us the opportunity to reiterate the support of the A3 for the restoration of peace and security in the Central African Republic despite the security and humanitarian challenges the country is facing and in view of the remarkable resilience the country has shown, which deserves to be recognized and upheld. We will examine these three pillars in the light of the Secretary-General’s report. On the political level, the A3 takes note of the debates around the composition of the Constitutional Court and consider the regular referrals to this important organ by civil society and opposition actors to reflect its scope and leadership.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the African members of the Security Council, namely, Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon (A3). We thank Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and Ambassador Omar Hilale, Chair of the Central African Republic configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, for their informative briefings on the latest developments in the country and on the activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). I also welcome the participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic at today’s meeting.”
2023-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9265 (2023) · source
“Given the obvious repercussions, which have already had a significant impact on the stability and security of various regions and States, the security dimension of climate change is no longer in doubt. More than ever, the question is no longer whether the Security Council is the competent organ to deal with the issue but rather how the Council’s work will take into account the multifaceted security risks associated with climate change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Gabon therefore endorses the call for the appointment of a special representative on climate and security, which would fill a critical gap in the United Nations system by providing the Security Council with the information it requires. An adequate response to climate-related security risks also requires sustainable and increased funding for climate-change adaptation with targeted funding for the most vulnerable countries and communities. In conclusion, we will not be able to build or ensure security, or achieve inclusive and lasting peace, if we do not address every element of instability and conflict. They include the threats posed by climate change, including those related to sea level rise.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“In the context of fragile States that are already affected by conflict, we must fill the gaps in scientific and traditional knowledge to increase climate resilience and ensure sustainable coastal development. Our understanding of how climate change threatens peace and security and fuels conflict must be improved across the entire United Nations system. Only then can climate policy underpin all other development planning and initiatives. We cannot talk about global peace, security or sustainability when the effects of climate change make development unattainable. The inclusion of relevant analysis in the regular reports, risk assessments and early warnings of the Secretary-General is crucial.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“The strong correlation between the vulnerability caused by climate change and insecurity results in a negative feedback loop, which increases the vulnerability of exposed communities, particularly women and children, who are less resilient and less able to cope with the effects of the consequent destabilization. Without effective resilience-building or climate-change adaptation strategies, increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events will continue to have a negative impact on the socioeconomic development of coastal areas. An adequate response to climate-related security risks demands that we raise our expectations in the fight against climate change. The best way to prevent, mitigate and manage climate-related security risks is to address their causes.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Depending on the context, there is a risk that the arrival of large numbers of displaced people, sometimes with different ethnic or religious identities, could exacerbate social tensions owing to identity issues or factors related to access to resources, livelihoods and pre-existing services, with the consequent risk of exacerbating social or political instability, including radicalization that could trigger both intrastate and inter-State conflicts. At the same time, tensions and conflicts can affect countries’ ability to deal with climate-related security risks and significantly increase their vulnerability. That is why the countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are also likely to be vulnerable to high levels of insecurity, which reduces their ability to respond or adapt to climate change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Damage or destruction of infrastructure, increased competition or inequalities in access to land or natural resources, the loss of submerged land, resource scarcity, food insecurity, reduced livelihoods, impacts on coastal economic activities or damage to the heritage and cultural identity function of coastlines are just some of the non-exhaustive list of adverse impacts of sea level rise. As exposure to the effects of sea level rise increases, so does the likelihood of sudden and forced mass migration of people living in coastal areas due to climate change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“In addition, urbanization and the rapid expansion of communities in coastal areas will put more people at risk. Rising sea levels are causing sudden events. Among those, the most salient are the retreat of the coastline, the intrusion of salt water into the land, coastal erosion, the modification of coastal ecosystems, storm surges often associated with intense cyclones or massive flooding phenomena, the humanitarian consequences of which are often disastrous.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“The scientific evidence is clear on the scale of the threat that sea level rise poses to the territorial integrity of small island developing States and low-lying States, with particularly severe impacts on coastal communities worldwide and their livelihoods. Sea level rise has the potential to challenge the basic defining characteristics of a State: a defined territory and a population. We are pleased that the International Law Commission is cognizant of that. For several decades, global sea level has been rising noticeably, and that trend is accelerating. At the current rate, hundreds of millions of people in Africa will be exposed to sea level rise by 2030, with some low-lying African coastal cities potentially becoming uninhabitable in the medium term.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“The magnitude of the threat requires transcending the preliminary debate about which international institution is best suited to act on behalf of the international community in response to the phenomenon of climate change. Indeed, the threat to the peace and security of the entire human race is real for coastal States, like Gabon. It is existential and imminent for small island States. The Security Council must address that fundamental issue, including the range of risks to international peace and security posed by the effects of climate change, and consider action at the international and regional levels. The expected response is primarily preventive and must include risk assessment, planning and appropriate funding for resilience and capacity- building in fragile States.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I congratulate Malta on taking the initiative of holding this important debate. I thank the Secretary-General for having perfectly spelled out the stakes of the threat posed by rising sea levels. I would also like to thank the President of the General Assembly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania and Co-Chair of the International Law Commission Study Group on sea level rise and Ms. Pasisi for their informative briefings. Gabon is firmly convinced that there is a clear nexus between peace, security and sustainable development. It is a constant domino effect, now exacerbated by the threat of climate change. That threat affects all countries of the world, developed and underdeveloped, and requires a comprehensive strategic response at the national and multilateral levels.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Such a child-centred approach is an invaluable investment in our future and one of the best guarantees of ensuring that today’s children will realize tomorrow our aspirations for security and dignity throughout the world.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“When institutions are weakest, social networks are least effective, infrastructure has been destroyed on a large scale and social roles have been upended, then reintegration programmes must be put in place in order to provide real prospects and genuine alternatives for the children concerned in order to prevent their re-recruitment by the same forces and even other countries. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm the need to base our global strategies for conflict resolution — and above all the work we do on behalf of child victims of conflict — on the need for protection and prevention, in particular by establishing multifaceted partnerships and strengthening resilience, while addressing the root causes of armed conflict.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“In implementing specific demobilization and reintegration programmes, we must ensure that they are tailored to children associated with armed forces or groups and children who have been victims of sexual violence, with a focus on community-based reintegration that is as inclusive as possible in order to prevent all forms of re-recruitment. In that regard, the decision of the children and the communities concerned on how such reintegration programmes are run is critical to ensuring their maximum effectiveness.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“It is clear that the majority of child soldiers in almost all conflicts come from the poorest, least educated and most marginalized segments of society. Those who live in areas in conflict, who have been separated from their families or whose family life has been disrupted, particularly within refugee and displaced populations, are particularly at risk. Poverty puts children’s lives at risk. It increases their vulnerability to other dangers by increasing their exposure to violence and exploitation, including child labour in dangerous working conditions and trafficking. Predators who sell children into slavery or for sexual exploitation recruit them from the starkest slums and most disadvantaged rural areas, in which extreme poverty makes children more vulnerable.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“At the legal level, the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides the most comprehensive legal framework in terms of States parties’ responsibilities for all children who live within their borders, in times of both peace and conflict. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child are particularly important in that they strengthen the protection of children in preventing their participation in armed conflict. The adoption of those legal instruments by all have proven to be of vital importance. We must address the root causes of child recruitment, including the risk and vulnerability factors leading to their recruitment, including social, economic and ideological factors.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“In addition to the resolutions on the issue of the exploitation of children in armed conflict adopted by the Council since 1999 and the annual reports of the Secretary- General, which include a list of entities recruiting or using children in armed conflict, we must position the efforts of the international community in a more robust and dissuasive posture in order to protect children more effectively. The perpetrators, leaders, commanders and other adults involved in the exploitation of children in conflict must be prosecuted and held accountable. The decision of the International Criminal Court in the case of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo sends an encouraging message in that regard.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“Such an understanding must include all children associated with an armed force or group who are or were recruited or employed by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to boys or girls used as combatants, cooks, porters, messengers or spies or for sexual purposes. We must continue to demonstrate fortitude in our response to the effects and persistence of the phenomenon of child exploitation in armed conflict.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“182), including the prohibition of the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under the age of 18 years for their use in armed conflict, the situations that lead to the recruitment of children and their experiences in armed forces or groups are part of a continuum that affects their well-being and development. In that regard, we must re-examine that phenomenon in the broader developmental perspective covering the time before, during and after the conflict. Our understanding of child soldiers must be as broad as possible in order to best protect those recruited and used in conflict while they are in reintegration and rehabilitation programmes.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“The extent of the psychosocial damage, the disruption of socialization processes and the loss of traditional values affecting children are life sentences for most of them. The landmark United Nations report by Graça Machel on the impact of armed conflict on children (see A/51/306) estimated that nearly 25 million children are displaced by conflict every decade. Conflict exacerbates situations in which children are abused and increases the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. Such abuses often persist in the post-conflict period in the form of domestic labour that becomes servitude, increased trafficking of children, increased sexual violence or sexual exploitation in refugee camps. Beyond the principles set forth in the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“Mr. Biang (Gabon) (spoke in French): I thank the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, Ms. Virginia Gamba de Potgieter and Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid. I listened carefully to Ms. Divina, and we thank her for her contribution and commitment. Wars are claiming an increasing number of victims among children. Thousands of girls are victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence and exploitation. The cross-border trafficking of children to and from conflict zones has been repeatedly documented. It is fuelled by complex international criminal networks, which trigger conflicts in order to better plunder natural resources in exchange for weapons and tools of war. Such trafficking has led to an increased number of child victims and their greater involvement in conflict.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“The international community must be more determined to take urgent measures commensurate with the threat, within the framework of broader governance and involving all components of society, in order to deprive terrorists of the ideological propaganda they use for the radicalization and manipulation of vulnerable communities.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“The front against terrorism must be united, and everyone everywhere must be fully committed. In Gabon’s view, the international community’s efforts must be supported by regional and subregional organizations, which are more familiar with the dynamics on the ground. However, they can be effective only if they have real capacity. It is therefore up to us to provide those organizations with the tools necessary to strengthen their resilience. In conclusion, I would like to stress the crucial nature of the fight against terrorism as an absolute imperative for the peace, security and development of our States.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“Our collective action against terrorism therefore requires a comprehensive approach and an appropriate treatment of the socioeconomic challenges faced by the affected countries: addressing the issue of youth education and training; strengthening State authority, particularly in fragile States; and improving living conditions, especially for disadvantaged populations. Similarly, we must dry up the sources of funding for terrorist networks through consolidated partnerships by gathering intelligence on online money transactions and combating the illegal exploitation of natural resources, drug trafficking, human trafficking and kidnapping for ransom. The United Nations must redouble its efforts, increase its means of action and boldly support peace-support initiatives and operations, particularly African initiatives.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“On the African continent, the Accra Initiative, which is aimed at a coherent response that combines the military approach with long-term interventions to address governance deficits, can serve as a reference in that respect. We must tailor our response coherently, because fragmented responses fuel the interests of terrorist groups, which exploit systemic flaws to sow the seeds of violence. Those flaws include humanitarian crises, which are becoming increasingly complex, given the induced effects of climate change, and are correlated with the rise in poverty and inequality inherent in recurrent political and socioeconomic crises.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“In the face of that scourge, we will need to agree on a number of cardinal principles, including zero tolerance of all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremist violence; action on the basis of strict compliance with international law, respect for the rule of law and other relevant international instruments and protocols; and action protected from any form of politicization through irreproachable impartiality. We must continue and strengthen our cooperation through information-sharing, the training of security and intelligence personnel and, where appropriate, support for operations aimed at weakening terrorist groups, particularly along common borders, where State capacity and authority are often limited.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“On 28 May 2022, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting in Malabo, adopted an important declaration, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremist violence on the continent. They also boosted numerous regional initiatives to fight terrorism, including the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Accra Initiative. We must ensure that the current polarization of the world does not lead to a weakening of multilateralism, which dangerous terrorist groups and their affiliates could take advantage of. Above all, we must stress the need for a holistic approach that fully considers the precarious socioeconomic conditions that make many disillusioned young people easy targets for radicalization and recruitment into terrorist organizations.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source
“Terrorist threats are intensifying and spreading to all regions. Governments are increasingly under pressure from populations fed up with the growing insecurity, especially since the political and economic measures adopted seem to fall short of the urgency and steadfast resolve required to fight the scourge. It is a war that puts the limited capacities of States to the test and destabilizes entire regions. That transnational threat is formidable, and no Government or organization can fight it alone. Concerted action at national, regional and global levels is crucial. African leaders understand that.”
2023-02-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9257 (2023) · source